Teacher's Album of 124 Photographs from Rural Midwestern School (including Michigan) in 1920s

[Teacher's Album], Photography

Photo Album

[Rural Schools] Photo album from a teacher working in 1920s in several rural Midwestern America (including Michigan) Schools. 124 original silver gelatin print photographs detailing the lives of teachers, students, and community members around the one-room schools that served small farming communities. 124 black and white silver gelatin print photos, various sizes from 2.5 x 1.5 in. to 4.5 x 6.5 in. Photos date from 1922-1929. Original paper boards. 7 x 12 inches. 58 pages. Album from teacher who worked at Pearsall School 1922-23, Eddy School (1923-24), Baker School (1924-25), Country Farm School (1925-26), Dye School (1927-28), and Dorr School (1927-29). In addition to photos, includes 32 pieces of ephemera, including drawings, invitations, valentines, and numerous press clippings with updates on the various schools. Most of the photos identify the school and include group photos of the children. These one-room schools had few pupils (often under 20 in the entire school), so teachers had to be prepared to instruct students at multiple levels. Many of the group photos show children in working clothes, such as overalls and simple cotton dresses. In some photos, it's clear that children are barefoot, while others (taken in cooler months) show them bundled up in jackets and work boots. In addition to photos of students posing by their schools, there are images of special presentations and students at leisure. One image shows the children all dressed in capes, as part of a musical performance; another shows two students and the teacher riding bicycles on a sunny afternoon. There are 47 individual photos of students from Dorr and Loomis Schools with their first and last names handwritten below. One particularly striking image of a young boy, Ronald Bishop, comes with additional information on his fate: “Killed by car”. Some photos identify community members such as “Nora and Hazel” and “Mr. Barnes,” who appears to be a delivery person in his official cap and horse-drawn buggy.

Newspaper clippings on the various schools provide updates on the institutions and students’ progress. “Hazel M. Hummel, Teacher. Our school closed for vacation with Christmas program at the schoolhouse. After the program...the ladies ten treat dus to popcorn balls and candy, which we enjoyed very much. Santa Clause was there and we all received a generous share of the presents with with the tree was loaded.” “We now have an enrollment of 13...Our percentage of attendance was 98 last month...We went flowering last week and found adder-tongues, May flowers, and a few lilies...The with graders have finished all their books and are reviewing now in preparation for the examination next week...Last Friday we celebrated Willard and Lucille Youngs’ birthday with a potluck dinner at the school-house…” “There are now 21 pupils...the primary grade pupils have made brownies, lanterns and witches in the kettle for Hallowe’en seat work...The older grades made Hallowe’en posters for Friday’s art class...The eight grade agriculture class have collected and mounted in a scrapbook the leaves of the trees in our neighborhood...We all enjoyed our vacation Thursday and Friday as Miss Hummel attended the institute.” This is a clear reference to ongoing training sessions for the teacher to stay up to date on new pedagogy and educational topics, showing the formalization and training required for women to pursue this profession. Very good condition.

Item #16845

Price: $385.00